Island



(No Moae1.)' W. WILDPRETT.

LADDER Patented Novn 30,1897.

WNV-Nrsrs:

ZNVENZ'DE M L WW NITED STATES FFICE.

" ATENT LADDER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 594,582, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed January l 9 l 8 9 7 To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM WILDPRETT, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladders; and I hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying draw ings, forming part ofV this specification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in ladders such as are known as track-ladders an d used in stores, libraries, and similar places.

The great convenience in the use of trackladders in stores with which they can be moved in front of the shelves to the desired place is counterbalanced lby the obstruction of the usually narrow space between the counter or tables and the shelves.

The object of this invention is to so construct a track-ladder that when not in use it will not obstruct the passage in front of the shelves; and to this end the invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of the track-ladder by which the ladder can be folded up and thus permit of the passage of goods or persons in thecontracted space as well as the movement of the ladder past persons or packages in the contracted space, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved ladder, showing the same in use. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the ladder folded whenv not in use. Fig. 3 is a view showing the ladder folded.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 4 indicates the double track, usually secured to or near the ceiling of the room in which the ladder is to be used, and 5 the oor-rail. The side support 6 of the ladder is provided at its lower end with the forked .bearing 7, in which the ground-roller 8 is journaled. The upper part of the side 6 is bent into the oblique angle G' and then bent on a line with the center of the open ladder to form the support 62, on the upper end of which the. rollers 9 9 of the truck are journaled. The bracket 10 extends from the support 62 outward to form the support for the side support 11, the upper end'of which is sain No. 619,761. (No model.)

provided with the inclined edge 12 and the hook 13. The lower end of the side support ll is provided with the fork-bearing 14, in which the roller 15 is journaled. This roller 15 is not grooved, as only one ioor-rail is used, and the roller may be provided with a rubber tire. The second or outer rail in track-ladd ers is objectionable, as it forms an obstruction on the part of the floor `much used. The steps 16 are pivotally secured to the side supports 6 and 11 by the hinges 17. By raising the side support 11 the same can be brought near to the side support 6 and secured by the latch 18. By making the steps shorter than the vertical distance between the steps the ladder may be closely folded. When folded, the ladder can be rolled on the rails from end to end without interfering with goods or persons which would obstruct its passage when open, and it does not obstruct the space between the shelves vand counter when folded. When open, it forms as convenient and serviceable a ladder as a rigid ladder would.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a track-ladder, the combination with the upper track, and asupporting-truck, of the central support 62, the oblique 6', the bracket lO, the side supports 6 and 11, and the steps 16 pivotally connected with the two side supports, the roller 8, and the floor-rail 5, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a track-ladder, the combination with the Hoor-rail 5, the upper rail 4, the side support 6 of the ladder bent to form the oblique 6' and central support 62, and rollers 8 and 9, of the bracket l0, the side support 1l, the roller` 15 at the lower endof the support 11, and the steps 16 pivotally connected with the two side supports 6 and 11, whereby the ladder may be folded when not in use, as and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM VVILDPRETT.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. MILLER, .T r., M. F. BLIGH. 

